Tool for Determining IRB Need

The University of Utah Institutional Review Board (IRB) has developed a toolkit to assist staff in determining whether a study is research or a healthcare improvement project. For detailed guidance, you can visit the IRB website.

If you're wondering whether your healthcare improvement project qualifies as research, the University of Utah Health Care Improvement Self-Assessment is a valuable, user-friendly resource. This tool helps faculty and staff determine if their project qualifies as human subject’s research and requires IRB review. It is advisable to use this resource before submitting any project to the IRB, particularly if your work involves:

- Quality Improvement (QI)

- Operational or clinical workflow changes

While this is a great resource, you can always submit your study in ERICA or reach out to the IRB to confirm directly if needed.